#QandAwesome Episode 1 Fear + Anxiety

February 11, 2015Nina Kovner#QandAwesome

Welcome to Episode 1 of #QandAwesome, my new weekly show where you ask the tough questions on business + life and I bring the answers.

In Episode 1, I answer one of the most common questions I get asked… How are you so fearless? Press play for the answer…

Got questions? Email awesome@passionsquared.net or tweet me @passionsquared2 #QandAwesome

 

How You Get Paid Is Irrelevant

How You Get Paid Is Irrelevant

February 9, 2015Nina KovnerENGAGE, GROW

“Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.” Walt Disney

In the world of professional salons, it has always baffled me how there is so much focus on how people get paid. Commission, salary, commission plus salary, team based, self-employed, independent, 1099, ugh, the list goes on and on…

And to be clear, this is not a debate on booth rental or commission salons, which is the better model or who is right or wrong, that is not a debate I choose to engage in, this is about what really matters to clients.

To me, it does not matter how you get paid, or what business model you choose to create, lead, manage, or work in.

Here is what matters…

#promisesmatter
Can you deliver an awesome experience consistently? The key word here is consistently? If you promise me a 5 minute scalp massage, trust, I know when you decided 3 minutes would be ok this time, guess what, its not ok.

#iamtheclient #ouch
Are you available when I want to get my hair done? Remember, I am the client, so my availability is more important than yours.

#myterms #notyours
Can I book with you 24/7?

#areyoudiscoverable
Do you have a website? Can I find your story online?

#referrals
How are your YELP reviews? Are there several, posted consistently over time?

#socialstatus
Can I find you on Instagram or Facebook? If I can’t, I don’t think you exist.

#ifnotgoodluckseeingmeanytimesoon
Do you pre-book my next appointment as a convenience to me?

#reducenoshows
Do I get a text or email reminder of my appointment?

#itmatters
Do you make my days brighter, my hair awesome and most importantly my heart fuller?

#selflove
Are you loving and kind? Authentically, kind and loving. To yourself, and those around you?

#omg #fail
Do you support & cheer on the people around you? Opposed to having a nasty attitude and talking shit about those around you and many times in front of me?

#notagoodlisttobeon
Is your space clean? I mean really clean? Or could your salon end up in a Buzzfeed list on grossest salons?

#youareresponsibleforthernergyyoubring #thankyou #sage
Is your energy clean? If it’s not, take care of that shit before you get to the salon.

#beginnersmind
Are you passionate about learning and trying new things?

#listentome
Are you really, really listening to me? Sometimes I think you aren’t. I said I loved that product you used on me, but you never offered it to me to take home.

#purpose #givemeareason
Do you know your why, and more importantly, do I know your why?

#valuematters
Is the value you deliver more than the price you charge? It better be. Because if its not, I will look for a less expensive option.

#wordofmouth #referrals
You see, if you do all these things, consistently, over time, you can create an awesome business + life. Because when you do all those things, consistently, I get excited. And when I get excited, I tell my friends.

Let’s stay focused on what matters, just like Mr. Disney did. #waltwisdom

Love + Awesomeness-
Nina, a salon client

Two Steps To An Even More Awesome YOU header

Two Steps To An Even More Awesome YOU

February 2, 2015Nina KovnerGROW, GUEST BLOGS

“The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.”  Steve Maraboli

Loving ourselves is by far one of the biggest challenges many have, including me. It is a daily decision, and a life long journey. One of my biggest challenges as I have written about many times is food. So I choose to surround myself with awesome humans who I can learn from, like Lisa Botts, who created this simple yet powerful post. Enjoy…

Guest Post by Lisa Botts, Vegan Chef, Founder of Good Fuel

Enough with the diets! I mean really, they only give temporary results at best and set you up for failure because they are unrealistic and unsustainable.

Let’s look at food differently. The new way of eating is about abundance. It’s about eating a broad spectrum of nutrient-rich foods.

Nutrients that the typical American diet lacks…BIG TIME! These are the vital micro-nutrients that give us natural boosts of energy, great looking skin, weight loss and, in some cases, reverse chronic and life-threatening disease.

There are only two steps you need to take to get MORE of these little guys in your body:

  • Eat whole, unprocessed foods.

  • Eat more plants.

That’s it! By eating whole, unprocessed foods the food retains the nutrients it was born with and not stripped out by machines and then put back in as “fortified”.

Micro-nutrients, like vitamin C (for energy) and Magnesium (keeps us chilled out) are abundant in fruits and vegetables. They’re your friends. The friends that want you around living your dreams and supporting you in becoming an even more awesome YOU!

Lisa Botts Good Fuel
Lisa Botts blogs at www.goodfuelgalore.com about living a lifestyle of substance, cooks anytime she can and is certified in plant-based nutrition through e-Cornell University.

Want to learn more from Lisa and experience her delicious vegan fare? Join us for Whole Body Whole Business, March 1 in Los Angeles.

Love + Awesomeness-

Nina

Objectives Outcomes

Objectives + Outcomes

January 26, 2015Nina KovnerGROW

“Every journey begins with the first step of articulating the intention, and then becoming the intention.”  Bryant McGill

Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you for listening.

Each day, I find myself asking two questions with my one on one clients and A School Group and felt compelled to share them;

  • What is your objective?

  • What outcome are you seeking?

Let’s begin with the first question.
If you ask me about a strategy or tactic for your business, and I am not clear on your objectives, then I cannot answer your question until I know your objective. Otherwise, I am giving you the wrong answer; it’s simply a guess. And does you no service.

Example:
Your Q.
Nina, should I be spending more time on Facebook, Email, YELP or Instagram?

My A.
I don’t know. What is your objective?

Your A.
My objective is to increase word of mouth and referrals, and I have 2 new stylists who need to get their hands busy. I have very limited resources and I do not yet understand how to engage effectively on social platforms.

My A.
My answer is YELP. This platform is proven, if used effectively, to generate more immediate referrals than any other platform for a service business. That is only if the business is delivering an awesome experience of course.

See how this works? If I simply answered after the first question, I would send you off into the abyss of wheel spinning and most likely you would not get any significant results. If you don’t know why you are doing something, how can anyone really coach you?

Now lets move to the second question.
If you ask me about a program, a challenge, and shift in strategy, a discussion you need to have with a business partner, team member or client, and ask my thoughts on your approach, dialogue, plan, I will most likely respond with… What outcome are you seeking? Again, any answer would most likely not mean anything, as our intentions are the power behind our tactics.

Example:
Your Q.
Nina, I am in a very sticky situation with a client, they said XYZ, what should I do?

My A.
What outcome are you seeking?

Your A.
I would like them to understand the situation and I would like to keep them as a client.

My A.
Ah, OK, here is how I would approach that.

You see, the outcome you are seeking matters. If you want to retain a client, getting into a shouting match of he said she said makes no sense. It’s just hurtful. When in reality, you simply want to communicate the issue, and create resolution.

Outcome matters. It can completely change how we approach situations, decisions, communications and relationships.

Objectives and outcomes. Start there.

Love + Awesomeness-

Nina

PS: A School, my group-coaching program, is designed to empower you, your business, and your life. A School helps keep you on a track to creating awesome. Click here to see if  A School is a good fit for you.